U.S. patent application number 14/131509 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-15 for locking apparatus for electrical plug-type connectors.
This patent application is currently assigned to HARTING ELECTRONICS GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is Junmin Guo, Yingtao Wang. Invention is credited to Junmin Guo, Yingtao Wang.
Application Number | 20140134898 14/131509 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47714693 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140134898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Yingtao ; et
al. |
May 15, 2014 |
LOCKING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICAL PLUG-TYPE CONNECTORS
Abstract
The invention proposes an electrical plug-type connector for
making contact with a mating plug-type connector, said plug-type
connector having a displaceable locking and unlocking apparatus,
which exerts a constant pressure on the apparatus by means of a
double-sided torsion spring in such a way that the plug-type
connector is forcibly locked when contact is made between said
plug-type connector and the mating plug. In this case, the pressure
exerted by the torsion spring legs is transferred to two axially
displaceable sliding posts, which are again part of the unlocking
apparatus. Furthermore, the unlocking apparatus has two sliding
arms, which can be displaced in a tongue-and-groove guide, at least
in regions, within corresponding recesses and flush with respect to
the side faces of the plug-type connector housing.
Inventors: |
Wang; Yingtao; (Guangdong,
CN) ; Guo; Junmin; (Guangdong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wang; Yingtao
Guo; Junmin |
Guangdong
Guangdong |
|
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HARTING ELECTRONICS GMBH
Espelkamp
DE
|
Family ID: |
47714693 |
Appl. No.: |
14/131509 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
August 16, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2011/078442 |
371 Date: |
January 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/843 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/6275 20130101;
H01R 13/635 20130101; H01R 13/512 20130101; H01R 13/627
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/843 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/627 20060101
H01R013/627 |
Claims
1. A locking apparatus for an electrical plug-type connector (100),
said plug-type connector being formed from a two-part housing (200,
300) with a cable connection side (104) for electrical cables (710)
and a plug-in side (102) formed from a printed circuit board (700)
and having electrical contacts (701), for making direct contact
with a mating plug (10) with the electrical contacts thereof, the
plug-type connector (100) being forcibly locked when plugged with
the mating plug (10), characterized in that the two-part housing
comprises a base housing (200) and a housing upper part (300),
within which a displaceable unlocking device (400) is arranged, in
that the unlocking device (400) has two sliding posts (405), on
which a torsion spring (500) acts, said torsion spring having two
spring legs (501) and bringing about forced locking, acting in the
axial direction, with the mating plug (10), and in that the locking
is released with an axially reversible movement counter to the
spring action.
2. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the torsion spring (500) has a rotary loop (502) and is held
in a separate spring chamber (305) within the housing upper part
(300) by means of a journal (307), which is aligned perpendicularly
in the spring chamber (305).
3. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the two spring legs (501) of the torsion spring (500) exert a
force acting axially in the sliding direction on sliding posts
(405) of the unlocking device (400) which reach into the spring
chamber (305), the two sliding posts (405) each reaching into the
chamber (305) within a slot (306).
4. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the unlocking device (400) has two sliding arms (403), which are
arranged in axially displaceable fashion within a recess (204, 312)
in the side walls (202, 302) of the plug-type connector (100), said
recess being split between the two housing parts (200, 300), the
sliding arms (403) having guide rails (402), which slide in guide
grooves (203, 313) within the side walls (202, 302).
5. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the sliding posts (405), which reach into the spring chamber
(305) through the slots (306), are integrally formed
perpendicularly within a central part (406) between the sliding
arms (403) of the unlocking device (400).
6. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in
that the sliding arms (403, 403') have fastening openings (404) for
a connection by means of fastening cams (602) with respect to a
pull tab (600) in order to perform unlocking of the plug-type
connector (100) from the mating plug (10).
7. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that contact is made with the individual conductors (750) supplied
by means of a data cable (710) on the printed circuit board (700)
and said individual conductors are enveloped by means of a suitable
potting compound and can be inserted as a block with a precise fit
between the base housing (200) and the upper housing (300).
8. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the two housing parts (200, 300) are assembled by means of an
open latch-in function, formed from hooks (301, 301') which engage
in recesses (201, 201') on both sides of the plug-in side (102) and
can be fixed to one another by means of two screws (320) close to
the cable connection side (104).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a locking apparatus for an
electrical plug-type connector, said plug-type connector being
formed from a two-part housing with a cable connection side for
electrical cables and a plug-in side formed from a printed circuit
board and having electrical contacts, for making direct contact
with a mating plug with the electrical contacts thereof, the
plug-type connector being forcibly locked when plugged with the
mating plug.
[0002] Such an electrical plug-type connector, which is also
referred to as a QSFP plug-type connector, is required for
transmitting signals at high bit rates, as required in Ethernet,
for example. Such plug-type connectors are designed for twin-axial
copper lines and also for optical waveguides and are used, for
example, in a computer center or a switching center for connecting
switches and computer units installed in switchgear cabinets to one
another.
PRIOR ART
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,641 B2 has disclosed an electrical
plug-type connector module with an unlocking mechanism, with
locking with respect to a mating plug taking place by means of two
springs, which are arranged on two side walls of the plug-type
connector module and which encounter the locking mechanism.
PROBLEM
[0004] The invention is therefore based on the problem of equipping
a QSFP plug-type connector with an unproblematic locking and
unlocking device and of presenting said QSFP plug-type connector in
such a way that it can be manipulated easily.
[0005] This problem is solved by virtue of the fact that the
two-part housing comprises a base housing and a housing upper part,
within which a displaceable locking device is arranged, that the
locking device has two sliding posts, on which a torsion spring
acts, said torsion spring having two spring limbs and bringing
about forced locking, acting in the axial direction, with the
mating plug, and that the locking is released with an axially
reversible movement counter to the spring action.
[0006] Advantageous configurations of the invention are specified
in the dependent claims.
[0007] The invention relates to a shielded, electrical plug-type
connector for high-frequency data transmissions using gigabit
Ethernet technology. These plug-type connectors are extremely slim,
with optical fibers and also copper wires being provided as
transmission medium. The version described here uses passive copper
lines which have the advantage over the fiberoptic variants of a
lower current consumption.
[0008] The plug-in side of these so-called QSFP (QSFP=Quad Small
Form-factor Pluggable) plug-type connectors has a pluggable printed
circuit board, for making contact with corresponding contacts of a
mating plug.
[0009] The plug-type connector housings are metallically shielding
and are equipped with an unlocking mechanism, which can be actuated
by means of a pull lug provided on the cable connection side.
[0010] In this case, the configuration and dimensions of the
plug-in side of the plug-type connector housings are predetermined
as standard. Such a plug-type connector is connected to a so-called
cage, namely a cage-like, shielding mating plug, which is generally
constructed in turn within a housing for switches, routers or bus
adapters, i.e. in equipment in the Ethernet sector, directly on
printed circuit boards, wherein the plug-type connectors can be
inserted into corresponding openings in the housing and are
forcibly latched with the mating plug there during insertion.
[0011] In addition, a spring-loaded locking mechanism with a pull
lug for unlocking from the mating plug is provided. In this case,
it is particularly advantageous that the locking device is arranged
in the interior of the plug housing, in contrast to the prior art,
with the result that parts of the locking mechanism which would
otherwise be on the outside cannot be bent or damaged.
[0012] No further details are given in relation to the cable tie
between the individual signal wires since this appears to be of no
further relevance here. Mention is merely made of the fact that the
individual signal wires are arranged in such a way as to be
combined and potted as a block and so as to make contact with the
printed circuit board. In this case, the contact tracks protruding
on the plug-in side on the printed circuit board touch
corresponding electric contacts of a mating plug.
[0013] The plug-type connector, which in this case is formed in two
parts from a base housing and an upper housing and has a printed
circuit board arranged in the interior for signal transmission, is
advantageously hooked in by means of a mechanism formed on its
plug-in side, assembled and screwed by means of two screws.
[0014] In this case, it has proven to be advantageous to use a
torsion spring, by means of which the locking device initially
performs a forced locking when the plug-type connector is plugged
together with the mating plug.
[0015] For this purpose, the torsion spring is held in a separate
spring chamber in the upper housing on a rotary journal, with the
result that the spring limbs of the spring are initially directed
at an angle towards the outer walls of the housing.
[0016] The locking device arranged within the two housing parts has
two sliding posts, which each reach into the spring chamber in the
upper housing through a slot. In this case, the spring limbs act on
these sliding posts in such a way that the locking device is
continuously pressed in the plug-in direction, and therefore is
forcibly latched with the mating plug when the plugging operation
of the plug-type connector is complete.
[0017] With a pulling movement on the pull lug in the opposite
direction to the plug-in direction, the locking is released and the
plug-type connector can be removed from the mating plug.
[0018] The locking device has two sliding arms with which it is
guided axially within a corresponding recess in the side walls,
advantageously in a tongue-and-groove guide, in sliding fashion
between the two housings.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0019] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
the drawing and will be explained in more detail below. In the
drawing:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a plug-type connector according to the
invention with a mating plug,
[0021] FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of the plug-type
connectors,
[0022] FIG. 3 shows an individual base housing,
[0023] FIG. 4a shows an individual upper housing from the
outside,
[0024] FIG. 4b shows an individual upper housing from the
inside,
[0025] FIG. 5a shows an unlocking device containing the plug-type
connector,
[0026] FIG. 5b shows the unlocking device shown in FIG. 5a, rotated
through 180.degree.,
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a pull lug provided for unlocking,
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a torsion spring, and
[0029] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the cable tie in the
plug-type connector.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an electrical plug-type connector 100 according
to the invention and a cage-like mating plug 10 provided therefor.
The plug-type connector 100 is formed from two housing halves,
namely a base housing 200 and an upper housing 300, which each have
a plug-in side 102 and a connection side 104.
[0031] An unlocking device 400, which can be displaced through a
certain axial range by means of a pull lug 600, is arranged within
the two housing parts.
[0032] In this case, the pull lug 600 can be inserted into the
locking device 400 on both sides (in this case at the top or at the
bottom) of the data cable 710, which has been inserted into the
plug-type connector, depending on the application case.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of an overview of the
individual parts belonging to the plug-type connector.
[0034] Said figure firstly shows the base housing 200 with the
upper housing 300 shown above this, with a plug-in printed circuit
board 700 with a connecting conductor block 750 attached thereto
and a data cable 710 as well as strain relief 720 surrounding the
data cable being inserted between said housings. In the upper
housing 300, a torsion spring 500 has been inserted in a spring
chamber 305.
[0035] Furthermore, an unlocking device 400 with the pull tab 600
is shown.
[0036] The base housing 200 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3
and has a half-open housing with two side walls 202, 202' and a
strain relief holder 209, which is integrally formed on the cable
connection side and an open plug-in side 102.
[0037] A step-like formation 206 is provided on the inside of the
side walls 202, 202' in the front region of the base housing 200,
namely the region pointing towards the plug-in side, with the
plug-in printed circuit board 700 resting on said step-like
formation when said plug-in printed circuit board is inserted into
the plug-type connector 100, while two supports 309, 309' are
provided in the upper housing 300, said supports fixing the plug-in
printed circuit board 700 from the other side. The fixing of the
plug-in printed circuit board on the plug-in side 102 is important
because contact is made with the mating plug 10 using the
electrical contacts 701 located on said plug-in printed circuit
board.
[0038] In order to provide an EMC-proof housing, stepped shoulders
207, 317 are provided on the edges of the side walls 202, 202' and
also on the edges of the side walls 302, 302' of the upper housing
300, said shoulders engaging one inside the other when the two
housing parts 200, 300 are fitted, so as to produce a type of
labyrinth seal.
[0039] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the upper housing 300, with the inside
of the upper housing being denoted by the reference symbol 300'.
The outside of the upper housing, with the reference symbol 300, is
illustrated, with the plug-in side 102 and the cable connection
side 104.
[0040] A spring chamber 305 is integrated on the cable connection
side 104 in FIG. 4a, with a torsion spring 500 being fixed in said
spring chamber by means of a guiding post 307.
[0041] For this purpose, the torsion spring 500 which is
illustrated in enlarged form in FIG. 7 has two spring legs 501,
which are connected to one another via a central rotary loop
502.
[0042] The ends of the spring legs have only a restricted amount of
play within the spring chambers, with said ends preferably being
pressed in each case against the outer wall 304, 304'.
[0043] Next to the outer walls 304, 304', guide slots 306 are let
into the spring chamber, with sliding posts 405 of the unlocking
device 400 being guided displaceably in said guide slots.
[0044] The unlocking device 400 is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, with
the unlocking device in FIG. 5b being illustrated such that it is
rotated through 180.degree. with respect to that shown in FIG.
5a.
[0045] In this case, two sliding arms 403, 403' are connected to
one another in the form of a U by a central part 406, the sliding
arms 403, 403' being connected so as to be perpendicular to one
another and integrally with the edges and the central part 406
arranged horizontally above this.
[0046] In the central region of the sliding arms 403, 403', on both
sides on the edges of the guide rails 402, 402' are integrally
formed, said guide rails ensuring secure guidance of the sliding
element 400 in recesses on both sides on the narrow sides of the
plug-type connector 100.
[0047] In each case unlocking elements 401 are integrally formed on
the free ends of the sliding arms 403, 403', said unlocking
elements being provided with an unlocking bevel 401'.
[0048] The unlocking element 401 is arranged in a cutout 407 as an
extension of the longitudinal recess 204 in the side wall 202 of
the base element 200, whereas the latching edges 408 and 409 are
provided in front of the cutout 407 in the longitudinal recess 204
of the base housing 200 and the longitudinal recess 312 of the
upper housing, with a locking hook of the mating plug 10 latching
behind said latching edges. When the unlocking device 400 is drawn
back, the unlocking bevel 401' of the unlocking hook 401 hits the
locking hook of the mating plug 10 (not shown here) and withdraws
it from the cutout 407.
[0049] Furthermore, the central part 406 has two sliding posts 405,
which are parallel to one another and are perpendicular to the
plane and can slide along, again within the spring chamber 305, in
the guide slots 306 provided there and, from the spring legs 501
acting thereon of the torsion spring 500, press the unlocking
device 400 continuously in the plug-in direction of the electrical
plug-type connector 100. This results in forced locking of the
locking hook in and with the mating plug.
[0050] The pull tab 600 with the actual tab 603 for unlocking the
plug-type connector 100 from the mating plug 10 is shown in FIG.
6.
[0051] The connection between the locking device 400 and the pull
tab 600 is performed by in each case two fastening cams 602 on the
holding arms 601 of the pull lug, said fastening cams latching into
correspondingly shaped fastening openings 404, 404' in the sliding
arms 403, 403' of the locking device.
[0052] FIG. 7 once again shows the torsion spring 500 separately
with its two spring legs 501, which are bent back to the side out
of a rotary loop 502 in the center.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 8, with the plug-side contacts 701 for
making contact with the mating plug are arranged on a printed
circuit board 700, which is arranged in the front plug-in region of
the plug-type connector 100, said contacts being connected to the
individual signal conductors of the data cable 710, which is
supplied to the cable connection side 104, and initially to
conductor tracks on the printed circuit board 700. In this case,
the signal conductors not shown in any more detail here are potted
by means of a curing compound, with the result that a type of block
750 is produced which can be inserted with a precise fit into the
two housing parts 200, 300.
[0054] On the cable connection side 104, the data cable 710 is
held, towards the outside, by means of the strain relief 720, which
is likewise fixed within the two housing parts 200, 300 within a
recess 316, while the cable shield 715 with the cable fixing 209
ensures electrical contact between the cable shield and the
metallic housing of the plug-type connector 100 in the interior of
the two housings 200, 300.
[0055] On the plug-in side, the two housing parts have an open
latch-in mechanism, with both parts shaped correspondingly to one
another, comprising a hook 301, 301' on the upper housing 300, said
hook latching into a recess 201, 201' in the base housing 200, with
the housing parts initially being hooked with respect to one
another by means of said hook, then being assembled and finally
being fixed with respect to one another using two screws 320.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0056] Electrical plug-type connector [0057] 10 Mating plug [0058]
100 Electrical plug-type connector [0059] 102 Plug-in side [0060]
104 Cable connection side [0061] 200 Base housing [0062] 201, 201'
Recess left-right for 301 [0063] 202, 202' Side wall, bottom [0064]
203 Sliding groove, bottom for 402 [0065] 204 Lower side recess for
400 [0066] 205 Guide slot for 400 [0067] 206 Supporting edge for
printed circuit board [0068] 207 Labyrinth seal, groove [0069] 208
Screw holes [0070] 209 Cable fixing means [0071] 300 Upper housing
1 (outside) [0072] 301, 301' Hook for recess 1-r 201 [0073] 302
Side wall, top [0074] 303 [0075] 304, 304' Outer wall of spring
chamber [0076] 305 Spring chamber [0077] 306 Guide slot for 405
[0078] 307 guiding post [0079] 308 Slot for spring tool [0080] 309,
309' Support for printed circuit board [0081] 300' Upper housing 2
(inside) [0082] 311 Screw-type bore [0083] 312 Sliding region for
unlocking [0084] 313 Sliding groove at top for 402 [0085] 314 Upper
lateral recess for 400 [0086] 315 Cable fastening means [0087] 316
Recess for strain relief [0088] 317 Opposing labyrinth seal, spring
[0089] 320 Screws [0090] 400 Unlocking device [0091] 401 Unlocking
hook [0092] 401' Unlocking bevel [0093] 402, 402' Guide rail [0094]
403, 403' Sliding arm [0095] 404, 404' Openings for fastening cams
[0096] 405 Sliding posts [0097] 406 Central part, connection [0098]
407 Cutout for unlocking hook 401 [0099] 408 Latching edge in 200
for ext. locking hook [0100] 409 Latching edge in 300 for ext.
locking hook [0101] 500 Torsion spring [0102] 501 Spring leg [0103]
502 Rotary loop [0104] 600 Pull lug [0105] 601 Holding arms [0106]
602 Fastening cams in 404 [0107] 603 (Lug)pull tab [0108] 700
Plug-in printed circuit board (printed circuit board) [0109] 701
Plug-in side contacts [0110] 710 Data cable [0111] 715 Shield
[0112] 720 strain relief [0113] 750 Connecting conductor block, in
contact/enveloped
* * * * *